1921. J 



Agriculti:re A uroad . 



91 



Another cross-bred variety is Riil)y, wliich ripens at Ottawa 

 in about 93 days from the date of sowing, and is thus even 

 earlier than Marquis. It yields well and is specially valuable 

 in districts where Marquis is too late or where there is a. 

 moderate rainfall. Euby wheat has helped to make profitable 

 the growing of wheat in districts where grain crops were 

 formerly ruined by frost. Prelude is also an early variety, 

 ripenin'g about 87 days from the date of sowing; it yields 

 flour of very high baking strength, but it is not pale enough to 

 be given the highest rank foi* colour. One of the most note- 

 worthy strains of wheat produced by selection from commercial 

 varieties is Early Bed Fife. It is obtained from ordinary 

 Red Fife, but is several da^ys earlier and has a higher yield. 

 Among other sorts are White Russian and White Fife. By 

 the free distribution of 5 -lb. samples of wheat, through the 

 agency of the Experimental Farms, the Dominion Govern- 

 ment is encouraging the growing of high-yielding, good flour- 

 making wheats suitable to the wide variety of conditions found 

 in Canada. 



Private growers also aid in the work of producing new or 

 improved varieties. The foundation stock resulting fiom selec- 

 tion of individual plants of outstanding merit is maintained and 

 multiplied in its purity by farmei"s who specialise in seed 

 growing. About three hundred such farmers are members of the 

 Canadian Seed Growers' Association. The Association receives a 

 grant from the Government and charges fees for registration of 

 inspected seed, which is marketed as such. In localities well 

 adapted to the production of wheat, growers of registered seed 

 work in co-operation in what are known as seed centres. Regis- 

 tered seed provides the stock for field o'op competitions, seed 

 fairs and provincial seed exhibitions. These receive subventions 

 from the Seed Branch of the Canadian Ministry of Ag "ieulture, 

 which also inspects and tests seed for farmers and seed 

 merchants, besides supplying seed wheat through the Govern- 

 ment Seed Purchasing Commission. Thus, when farmers or 

 seed merchants are in doubt, samples are sent to th'^ seed 

 laboratories for germination tests. 



Seed wheat exposed for sale must comply with th^ requirt^- 

 ments of the Seed Control Act. It must be either free from 

 noxious weed seeds or be labelled to indicate those present, and 

 must be capable of germinating 63 per cent, or he labelled to 

 show the exact percentage of germination. If sold according to 

 grades, the standards must be maintained for those indicatc^d. 



